New Directions

Nastia Liukin – The Secret Swan

“Grandfather Lim,” the young boy said, “would you tell us a story before we go to bed?”

Lim Swee Meng looked kindly at the children and softly rubbed his long gray beard.“Alright, I’ll tell you the story of great hero who lived many, many years ago,” he replied.

“How long ago?” the boy asked.

“Oh, I don’t really know, no one knows anymore.It was before the time of the great wars and the dimming of the sun.Some say it was more than five hundred years ago that the legendary Ma Koh Fel took to the waters at the last Ah Lim Pia.Some say he was half man and half fish.”

“Yes, grandfather we know the story well, but we want a different story tonight.”

“You do?” he said with a smile, “which one would you like?”

“Grandfather, could you please tell us the story of the Secret Swan? That one is our favorite!”

The old man chucked softly, he knew they were going to ask for this story.They always wanted to hear the story of Nah Sti Ah on the evening before the games.

“In the days of old, long before the earth had changed the Emperor sent out word throughout the world for all of the athletes of all nations to come to Bei Jing to compete in the last Ah Lim Pia.”

“Wait, grandfather,” the young boy interrupted, “ I thought we didn’t have emperor’s then.”

“Oh, I think they had changed the title to something like President, but it was really just like being an Emperor. Whenever he gave an order, the people obeyed. His name was Emperor Hu.”The young boy fell silent and listened.

“When the word of the Emperor’s invitation reached the land we call Mei Kuo, the land of the fragrant trees, many athletes responded and it was they who would present the greatest challenge to the gymnasts of Chung Kuo.”

“Yes, grandfather, but tell us about the swan!”

“Oh, yes.Well, you see the Mei Kuo people had many powerful gymnasts, just like us.One day, as the Mei Kuo people were practicing their skills a beautiful swan fly by and watched as they jumped and flipped their bodies and climbed on the bars and balance beams and vaulted through the air. I wish I could be one of them she said, and just then a fairy overheard her and granted her wish. She was immediately transformed into a slender, young girl who still had the grace of a swan.She told them her name was Nah Sti Ah and asked to join the gymnasts but they were doubtful.She looked different from them, you see.That’s because their gymnasts, and our too, were very muscular and rather stalwart looking while she looked as if the wind itself might carry her away.”

“Did they know she used to be a swan?” one of the girls asked.

“No, Ah Mei.Nobody knew.They thought she was human like them, but probably too tall and not as strong.Eventually, they let her come with them to Bei Jing and then the greatest gymnastic competition of all time took place,” he said with a dramatic wave of his hands. The eyes of the children widened, but they all smiled too, because they knew the ending of the story.”

“The Emperor Hu had chosen the youngest and best gymnasts among the Chung Kuo people and they had trained very hard for the honor of the country. The Chung Kuo team and the Mei Kuo team battled back and forth until finally there were only the best from each side left – and lo and behold, Na Sti Ah was among the finalists. Of course everyone was surprised that she had survived the competition so far, but everyone knew the team from our land was the best.”

“Is that when she flew?” the girl asked.

The old man smiled.“Yes, Ah Mei.It was then, when all seemed to favor the young athletes from our land that Na Sti Ah began to use her swan skills. She flew from bar to bar, she stepped ever so lightly on the balance beam, she soared supremely in the air in the vaulting place and then, finally, when the two teams were almost tied she leaped and twisted and turned across the floor with such grace and agility that even our gymnasts were stunned, for none of them possessed the skills of a swan.”

“What happened then, Grandfather?” the young boy asked.

“Why, she won of course.”

“Yes, Grandfather, I know, but what about afterward?Did she go back to the Mei Kuo land? What did she do then?”

The old man stood up and poked at the dying embers in the fire and was quiet for a minute.Then he replied. “That was a long time ago, Chee Hock.No one remembers all that happened, but most authorities believe that after some time, her wish having been granted, she turned back into a swan.Today you can still see her descendents gliding above the waters or cruising softly along with the currents.They say that if you go to the waters edge and you see a swan it will always look at you for a few moments as if it is waiting for you to say something.”

“What are they waiting to hear?” the little girl whispered.

“They are waiting to hear if you are bringing an invitation from the Emperor and the sacred games of the Ah Lim Pia are being held once again.”

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